Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-07-09
THE END CT A JOURNEY.

Win osiicIi Ie'sthei7, Mds the very picture
Of elegance. Louise was little, insignifi
cant thing, and she appeared less attract
i've than ever As she made her way to tn.
waiting-room alongside of her distin
gnished-looking friend
It's too absurd" she said, as they sal
together in remote coner, enjoying last
confidential chat before Miss Travers left
for the West The idea of your posting
OFT to san Francisco all alone, simply be.
cause harmless youth promises to come
this way, and 10 act as your escort
1t is only three weeks earlier than !
meant to 90, anyhow" said SybiI, stoutIv
You know why | prefer to 20 alone
Louise. You see Uncle Jerry has made
up his mind that propinquity is the only
thing nece ssary to make Mr. Valleau and
myself fall madly III love with each other
He faneies that a trip across the continent
is especially well calculated to bring about
that much-desired result. But don't see
it in that way. know very well that
should hate Mr.. Nalleau from the outset.
| should feel bound 10 do it Just for con-
trariety. So, you see, ] prefer to 90 home
a few weeks earlier, and to 20 alone Tor
if did wait for Mr.. Nallcau as Uncle
Jerry wished me to, and if ! failed to fall
in love with him, you know very well that
it would be impossible for me to explain
the phenomenon satisfactorily. As il is, |
can smooth matters over easily"
How far-sichted YOU are, Sybil, Louise
said, laughing. "Nir. Valleau will be ter
ribly disappointed, though, fear. But
there's your train, dear Good-by. Write
10 me as soon as you arrive"
Then followed considerable girlish dem
onstration, which provoked a smile on the
lips of a nOnchalent young traveller who
reclined Al his ease before one Of the win
dows of parlor car and who had been
watching Louise and SybiI with interest.
" 4 very handsome girl. by Jover was
his mental comment as Sybil took her seat
Just behind him, and the mirror at the
end of the car enabled him to command a
full view Of her face. 81 wonder how far
she is going"
There was no means of ascertaining Just
then, but when the conductor came through
the car and the young man presented his
ticket, to which was attached long string
of coupons running all the way from New
York to San Francisco, he noted with sat
isfaction that Sybil had one like it.
"A through passenger" he observed II
wonder who she is? Travelling alone, too;
but evidently lady. She must be Cali
fornian, bat she looks like New Yorker"
etc.
The young mans fancy ran riot, and all
the while he kept his eyes fixed on the
mirror in which was reflected SYPHILIS
lovely face, with its rich, warm coloring
and its beautiful frame of ripping hair.
Very often their eyes met, as was only
natural; bat Sybil had wonderful compos-
ure for 80 young girl, and the look of
serenity she continued to wear rather
chagrined the handsome stranger, who had
entertained hope, innocent enough in its
nature, that the long ride over the plains
might be enlivened with piquant flirta-
ton.
'Pallas Athene," he said, regretfully
Beautiful, but susceptible of no passion
that is not animated by reason"
Such a conclusion might have been
rather hasty, but it appears that this ag-
grcSsIve young man III an ulster and tray
cling cap made some pretense toward being
. reader Of character.
Meanwhile Sybil, constitutionally op-
posed to "ogling." as all sensible, womaniy
girls are, formed a pretty severe opinion of
the stranger who took such Il mean ad-
vantage Of .he power of reflection. But
She Scorned 70 change her seat Ierpolicv
was one Of complete oblivion, and settling
herself comfortably, she soon forgot all
about the handsome pair Of brown eyes so
deliberately liked on the tell-tale mirror.
The other passengers were pretty well
acquainted 10y the time they reached Chi
cago, but Syhil, naturally reserved, and
becoming more 50 through the protective
instinct, which prompted her to make few
friends when travelling alone, had not
Joined the little coterie which soon estab-
fishes itself IN every westward bound train.
Her neighbor had been baifled in several
attempts to make her acquaintance but
difficulty only fred his determination.
"She's something new in the feminine
line, by Jove she is he remarked, when
one of his deepest-laid schemes had been
overthrow by SYPHILIS courteous but I'M
approachable dignity.
1t appears that this handsome stranger
had been q "lady's man for many a day"
lie was OF q peculiar temperament. When
he made up mis- mind to anything he usrl-
ally accomplished it, and in accomplishing
it was quite willing to relinquish all sub
ordinate interests. He, too, held himself
aloof from his fellow passengers. and so it
was that when they reached Council Bluffs
not 4 soul was on board the train who
could have told who the lady and gentle
man were that travelled alone and were so
very exclusive.
Any one who has made trans-conti-
mental trip will appreciate the desire to
take a turn on terra firma that seized
SYPHILIS vis-3-vis when he reached Council
Bluffs. He was 4 1.-THE. active fellow. and
during the hour and half that the train
halted he made pedestrian tour into the
surrounding country. Unfortunately, he
prolonged his walk beyond a desirable
limit, and when he reached the station
again the train had already begun to move
slowly. Many time he had boarded the
train when it was going much more rap
idly, aud, With a moments hesitation, he
ran for the rear platform of his car. max
ing spring and catching at the iron rail
ing.
As often happens, he had not calculated
on the fail speed of the train. He missed
the step and fell backward striking his
head on the platform, and only escaping
terrible fracture by the presence of a
pile Of empty mail-bags, which broke his
fall
The train stopped, and the injured man
was taken aboard He was wholly insen-
sible and the blood gushed freely from the
wound in his head. A skillful surgeon
who happened to be among the passengers
was summoned at once, and having seen
the young man made comfortable in
sleeping-car he examined the Commissions.
VIII some one please help me with
these handages?" the doctor asked. "No,
thanks" he added as gentleman offered
his services. A lady. please
He glanced around the car and his eyes
fell on SYPHILIS calm face, on the slim white
hands tina. looked so deit and agile, and he
noted the eomposure with which she bore
herself, while the rest OF the ladies were
merely all IN a semi-hysterical state.
"Win you hold these bandages, Miss"
he asked, kindly. DO you understand
now to do itT
40, yes, sir" said she, promptly Ny
father was doctor. ] am used to such
work"